Sanitary face mask

ABSTRACT

A frame defines a face mask and has a tongue pivotally mounted to a handle depending from the frame. The tongue is inserted into an envelope in a transparent plastic-like material and positioned to retain the material against the inside of the frame.

United States Patent 1 91 1111 3,740,768 McCosker June 26, 1973 [54] SANITARY FACE MASK FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [761 lnvemo" W ct' fli 6 608,357 4/1926 France.....'..; 2/11 I Winchester Avenue, Margate, NJ.

Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin [22] Filed: Dec. 22, 1971 Assistant EJqaminer -Peter Nerbun [211 App] NOJ 210,962 Attorney-Frank J. Berasutti, Henry N. PauLJr. et al.

52 vs. c1 2/174, 2/9, 2/11 1 ABSTRACT [51 Int. Cl A4511 44/12 I A frame defines a face mask and has a tongue i n [58] Field of Search 2/9, 4, 8, 174, 173, moumed to a handle depending from h frame. Th

2/11 14 14 14 x; 128/1416 tongue is inserted into an envelope in a transparent plastic-like material and positioned to retain the mate- [56] Reierences C'ted rial against the inside of the frame.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,152,588 10/1964 Rogowski 11 2/9 11 2 Drawmg Figures SANITARY FACE MASK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device utilized to protect the face of an individual and to aid in preventing theinhalation of toxic air during the spraying of ingredients from an aerosol container, such as during the application of hair spray, or in spraying room deodorants, insecticides, and the like and in particular, to a device which is provided with a disposable sanitary portion closest to the face of the individual. In the prior art, face shields and masks are known for use during the application of hair sprays. See for example, those devices shown in U. S. Pat. Nos. 3,015,105, 3,060,445, 3,103,667, 3,317,921, and 3,488,772. In general it is known from this art to provide a mask which has the outlines or contours of a face and which will fit against the forehead, under the chin and around the perimeter of the face, and which can be held in place by a handle. The art shows various means for permitting an individual to breathe while using a mask. Further, it is known to use transparent material to cover the face during the application of hair spray. This is particularly necessary where the user of the protective device is also doing the spraying, as opposed to a beauty parlor situation in which the user is not necessarily the one spraying the hair spray. The problem with these prior art devices is that they are basically unsanitary and unhealthy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I have overcome the deficiencies of the prior art by supplying a frame in a generally hollow semi-ovoid shape having a handle extending therefrom to which is pivotally mounted a tongue. The tongue can be inserted into a specially designed piece of sheet material having a sleeve forming an envelope for reception of the tongue; which material is then pressed into the frame by means of the tongue and held in position by means of the handle. In the preferred embodiment the material is slightly oversized, so that it can be wrapped about the perimeter or margin of the frame which is in closest proximity to the face of the person having the device applied to them during spraying.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and novel mask of a filtering and sanitary type which overcomes the aforementioned deficiencies of the prior art. This and other objects of my invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a device in accordance with my invention shown in its open condition prior to assemblyyand v FIG. 2 is a perspective view of my invention in its preferred embodiment completely assembled in the condition in which it will be used during'hair spraying.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Although specific forms of the invention have been selected for illustration in the drawings, and the following description is drawn in specific terms for the pur-v pose of describing these forms of the invention, this description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the figures, both figures show the basic frame 10 which consists of a plurality of strips of material suitably attached to one another in an open grid formed into the shape of a hollow semi-ovoid. The material can be of any suitable type such as plastic. The exact contour of the perimeter or margin 12 is not critical for the present invention; it being known in the art to provide a facial contour as can be readily ascertained from the above referenced patents. While it is preferable to have a full mask as described above, it will be understood that the present invention contemplates a mask of lesser portions, such as for example, a half mask for use in protecting the nose and mouth alone. Of course, when using such a half mask it is unnecessary to have a transparent material, but it will still be necessary to have a material which allows free breathing (as will be discussed more fully hereinafter).

Depending from the open frame construction is a handle 14. Pivotally mounted to the bottom thereof by meansof the pin 18 is a tongue member 16. The tongue has a handle portion 20 which is complementally configured to the handle portion 14 and an arcuate substantially flat tongue portion 22 which is complementally configured to the inner arcuate portion 23 of the frame, so that they will fit together as shown by the dash lines in FIG. 2.

A specially designed sheet of material 24 is utilized for the present invention and consists of a substantially circular sheet wilh a' sleeve providing an envelope for reception of the tongue portion 22. The sleeve is formed by the sheet 24 and the additional piece of material 26 which is adhered to'the sheet 24 along two margins 28 and 30. The tongue portion 22 is slid into the envelope 31 as shown by the arrows in FIG. 1, then the handle portions 20 and M are brought together thereby bring the sheet of material into the inner cavity of the mask.

In the preferred embodiment the material 26 is of such a size that the outer edge of the material extends outwardly beyond the perimeter of the mask in its assembled condition, so that the material can be folded over as illustrated at 32 in FIG. 2. This greatly aides in helping the material retain its shape during use. Further, it insures a sanitary surface against the face of the user. It will be noted in this regard that the device when fully assembled as in FIG. 2 provides the user with a mask entirely composed of sanitary, disposable material in that portion which is closest to the users face. That is, no permanent portion of the device is in contact with the users face.

While the material 26 can be plastic and it is preferable to have it transparent, it is most desirable to have it made of a material which is semipermeable, but not necessarily foraminous, so that the material will pass air for breathing, but will not allow free passage of everything in the surrounding atmosphere during breathing. Any suitable filter material available in sheet from which is sufficiently flexible to be formed to the inner portion of the mask as aforesaid can be used if it is first odorants, insecticides, etc. In particular, a user having been provided witha dispenser of prepared sheets,

need only insert a sheet over the tongue, close the han-- 1 dle portion and, in the perferred embodiment, fold the margin of the material about the perimeter of the mask, and then spray while holding the mask against the face. Once spraying has been completed, the mask can be removed, the handles opened and the sanitary portion of sheet material quickly disposed of.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials and arrangement of parts which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this" invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

For example, the material 26 can be a composite of plastic and paper or other similar material. The porous portion can be made ofa light weight paper in, which a charcoal dust, or other particles having a similar function, have been implanted, so as to add to the purification of the air being breathed by the user. Further the top half of the material may be a non porous material, since only the bottom portion closest to the handle will be used in breathing. Thus the top could be clear plastie and the bottom porous filter paper. Any suitable means can beused to join the composite sheets of material and to form the envelope previously described.

It will further be understood that the Abstract of the Disclosure set forth above is intended to provide a non-legal technical statement of the contents of the disclosure in compliance with the Rules of Practice of the United States Patent Office, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention described and claimed herein.

What is claimed is: 1

1. A sanitary face mask for use by individual during 7 spraying, comprising, in'combination:

a. mask frame means forming a hollow substantially semi-ovoid with a perimeter suitably contoured for a portion of a human face; I

b. manual support means connected to said mask frame means for supporting said mask frame means manually;

c. retaining means comprising an end portion complementally configured to said mask frame means;

d. a separate flexible sheet material on the inner surface ofsaid mask frame means comprising means thereon for'receiving the complementally configured end of said retaining means;

e. said retaining means cooperating with said mask frame means to position and conform said flexible sheet material to said mask frame means.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said mask frame means comprises an open grid.-

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said separate flexible sheet material, comprises -a composite sheet having a semi-permeable filter material portion and a transparent portion. 7

4.The invention of claim 1 wherein said separate flexible sheet material overlaps the .perimeter of said mask frame means.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means on said separate flexible sheet material has a sleeve forming an envelope and said complementally configured portion of said retaining means is disposed in said envelope.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said retaining means is pivotally. connected to said mutual support means, and which, when engaging said separate flexible sheet material and positioning it against said mask frame means, is held together with said manual support means.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a portion pivotally connected to said manual support means anda portion forming a tongue complementally configured to a portion of the inner surface of said mask frame means.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said separate flexible sheet material comprises a semipermeable transparent filter material and has a second piece of material joined thereto to provide a sleeve forming an envelope in which the tongue is disposed.

9. Theinvention of claim 1 wherein the retaining means is manually supported against the manual support means.

10. A sanitary face maskfor use by an individual during spraying, comprising, in combination:

a. mask frame means forming a hollow substantially semi-ovoid with a perimeter suitably contoured for a portion of the human face;

b. manual support means connected to .said mask frame means for supporting said mask frame means manually;

. a separate flexible semi-permeable transparent filter sheet material on the inner surface of said mask frame means, which material has a second piece of material joined thereto to provide a sleeve forming an envelope;

. retaining means cooperating with said mask frame means and engaging said material to position and retain said material on the inner surface of said mask frame means, which retaining means has a portion pivotally connected to said manual support means and a portion forming a tongue complementally configured to a portion of the inner surface of said mask frame means, which tongue is disposed within the envelope of said material.

1 1. A sanitary face mask for use by an individual during spraying, comprising, in combination:

a. mask frame means forming a hollow substantially means.

' v n: ts n 

1. A sanitary face mask for use by individual during spraying, comprising, in combination: a. mask frame means forming a hollow substantially semi-ovoid with a perimeter suitably contoured for a portion of a human face; b. manual support means connected to said mask frame means for supporting said mask frame means manually; c. retaining means comprising an end portion complementally configured to said mask frame means; d. a separate flexible sheet material on the inner surface of said mask frame means comprising means thereon for receiving the complementally configured end of said retaining means; e. said retaining means cooperating with said mask frame means to position and conform said flexible sheet material to said mask frame means.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said mask frame means comprises an open grid.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said separate flexible sheet material comprises a composite sheet having a semi-permeable filter material portion and a transparent portion.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said separate flexible sheet material overlaps the perimeter of said mask frame means.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means on said separate flexible sheet material has a sleeve forming an envelope and said complementally configured portion of said retaining means is disposed in said envelope.
 6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said retaining means is pivotally connected to said mutual support means, and which, when engaging said separate flexible sheet material and positioning it against said mask frame means, is held together with said manual support means.
 7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a portion pivotally connected to said manual support means and a portion forming a tongue complementally configured to a portion of the inner surface of said mask frame means.
 8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said separate flexible sheet material comprises a semipermeable transparent filter material and has a second piece of material joined thereto to provide a sleeve forming an envelope in which the tongue is disposed.
 9. The invention of claim 1 wherein the retaining means is manually supported against the manual support means.
 10. A sanitary face mask for use by an individual during spraying, comprising, in combination: a. mask frame means forming a hollow substantially semi-ovoid with a perimeter suitably contoured for a portion of the human face; b. manual support means connected to said mask frame means for supporting said mask frame means manually; c. a separate flexible semi-permeable transparent filter sheet material on the inner surface of said mask frame means, which materiAl has a second piece of material joined thereto to provide a sleeve forming an envelope; d. retaining means cooperating with said mask frame means and engaging said material to position and retain said material on the inner surface of said mask frame means, which retaining means has a portion pivotally connected to said manual support means and a portion forming a tongue complementally configured to a portion of the inner surface of said mask frame means, which tongue is disposed within the envelope of said material.
 11. A sanitary face mask for use by an individual during spraying, comprising, in combination: a. mask frame means forming a hollow substantially semi-ovoid with a perimeter suitably contoured for a portion of a human face; b. manual support means connected to said mask frame means for supporting said mask frame means manually; c. a separate removable flexible sheet material on the inner surface of said mask frame means overlapping the perimeter of said mask frame means on the outer surface thereof between the mask frame means and the face of the individual; and d. retaining means separated from said mask frame means engaging said material and positioning said material on the inner surface of said mask frame means. 